Capping device



Aug. 11, 1936. YT. PETERSEN CAPPI'NG DEVICE Filed sept. 1&5, 1934 fd'f/ 'f4 TTONEYS.

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Patented Aug. 11, 1936 ,si stars CAPPING DEVECE Thorvald Petersen, Erie, Pa., assigner to R. G. Wright & Company, Bualo, N. Y.

Application September 15, 1934, Serial No. 744,234

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for placing caps or closures on bottles and other containers, and more particularly for use in connection with caps of the kind having a part which seats in the neck of the container and a hood or projection which ts over the outer end of the bottle top.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which may be operated by hand for placing caps of this kind upon bottles or other containers.

Another object is to provide a device of this kind which is so constructed as to bear against the lip or top of the container for actuating the capping device, and which releases the container top just prior to the final pressing of the cap into its operative position.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a capping device of this kind with means of improved construction for feeding the caps from a magazine or stack into position to be placed on a container; also to improve the construction of capping devices of this kind in other respects hereinafter specified.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a cappingr device embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 3-3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation thereof.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view on line 5 5', Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on line 6-S, Fig. 3.

Fig. '7 is a similar section but showing the parts in different positions.

Fig. 8 is a central sectional elevation of a milk bottle provided with a cap or closure of the type upon which this device is constructed to operate.

My improved bottle capping device includes some of the features incorporated in my application for patent, Serial No. 673,576 led May 3l, 1933, and includes a housing HJ, which may, if desired, be formed in one piece and which is provided with the usual aring bottle align-A ing flange or skirt Il adapted to fit over and center the upper end of a bottle or container A with the capping device. The housing is provided with a guide portion or aperture i2 in which a plunger l5 is mounted to move toward and from the upper end of a bottle for pressing a cap into the neck of the bottle. The plunger may be provided with the usual handle it formed integral with or suitably secured to the. plunger i5, but it will be obvious that if the capping device is applied to a machine, the handle portion i6 may be omitted or replaced by other means for connecting the plunger to a part of such machine.

The housing is also provided with a magazine part I 8 for holding. a number of caps or closures B and this magazine may be formed integral with the housing or secured thereto, and may, if desired, be adapted to receive and support a tube t3 containing the caps or closure members. One type of closure member of the kind which this device is adapted to operate upon is illustrated in Fig. 8, and includes a portion 2i! adapted to fit into the neck of a milk bottle or other receptacle and an annular hood portion 2i may be formed integral with or suitably secured to the part 2&3 and which fits over the lip or outer end of the bottle or other receptacle. My improved capping device can, however, be readily adapted for operating on caps or closures of other constructions which nt the neck of the bottle.

The caps or closure devices are fed one at a time from the lower end of the cap magazine i8 into position to be moved downwardly by theA plunger l5 and any suitable means for feeding the caps may be employed. In the particular construction illustrated by way of eX ample, the feeding of the caps is effected by means of a plate 22 adapted to swing about an upright axis. The plate 22 of the feed member has a substantially flat horizontal face 23 which forms a movable bottom for the cap magazine and holds the caps in the magazine. The feed plate is also provided with a depressed or seat portion 24 arranged in a plane below the at face 23 of the plate to an extent not greater than the height of the caps to be fed, and this seat portion is so arranged on the plate 22 as to move into a position below the cap magazine so that the lowest cap in the magazine may drop downwardly and rest upon the seat portion 24. If desired, the seat portion may be provided with an extension 25 engaging the middle portion of the cap or closure so that the same will be securely supported on the seat 24 in the plate 22. Upon movement of the feeding plate, the cap which .has entered the seat portion of the plate is moved from the magazine and carried by the plate into a position beneath the plunger l5, where it is held as hereinafter described. By means of this conmember 21.

struction, the cap is fed from the magazine to a position under the plunger without sliding the cap upon a stationary surface, so that an accurate positioning of the cap under the plunger is assured, and so that no damage to the cap due to sliding of the same along a stationary surface can result.

In order to produce the desired movement of the feed plate 22, any suitable connection between the reciprocatory plunger I5 and the plate 22 may be provided. In the construction shown, the plate 22 is provided with an upright post or pivot member 21 suitably journalled in an upright aperture or bore 23 in the housing. This pivot member is provided with a cam slot or groove 29 and the plunger I5 is provided with a laterally extending stud or post 30 which extends through a slot 3| connecting the guide aperture I2 and the aperture 28, and the end of the stud or post 30 extends into the cam groove 29. The groove 29 is so formed that when the plunger is at or near the upper end of its movement, the cap receiving seat 24 of the feed plate 22 is in a position to place a cap in alignment with the guide aperture I2 of the plunger, and when the plunger is at the lower end of its movement to press a cap into engagement with the receptacle, the seat 24 will be in a position to receive a cap from the magazine The feed plate or its pivot member is constructed so as to bear on a part of the housing I of the capping device to limit the upward movement of the feed plate and pivot member, and the upper end of the pivot member may be provided with suitable means for holding the feed plate and pivot member against downward movement, such for example as a cap or flange member 35, which preferably has a threaded engagement with the upper end of the pivot member 21. By means of this construction, the cap or flange member bearing against an upper edge of the housing member may be adjusted relatively to the pivot member 21 so as to form a snug and accurate bearing of the pivot member on the housing and to compensate for` wear. The ange or cap member 35 may be locked in adjusted position relatively to the pivot member 21 in any suitable or desired manner, for example, by means of a set screw 36 having a threaded engagement with the cap 35 and adapted to bear against the upper end of the pivot member 21, to lock the cap or flange member 35 against turning relatively to the pivot mounting the feed member on the housing may be employed.

The flange or cap member 35, as clearly seen in Fig. 4, extends across the slot 3l, so that this flange or cap cooperates with the stud or post 39 to form a stop to limit the upward movement of the plunger I5. Since this fiange or cap is readily removable from the pivot member, the

devices of greater diameter than the tops of Any other means for adjustablyA these bottles or devices, I provide movable supports by means of which the capping device may be supported upon the top of the bottle or container until the cap is ready to be pressed into engagement with the end of the container. For this purpose, I make the smaller or upper end of the flange or skirt II of larger inside diameter than the outside diameter of the lip or end of the container and provide movable supports which are inY operative position to engage the end of the bottle when the capping device is positioned on the bottle and during the initial downward movement of the plunger. After the plunger has been moved downwardly approximately to the limit of its downward movement relatively to the housing I0, means are provided for removing the supports from engagement with the end of the bottle or container, so that these supports do not interfere with the placing of the closure upon the end of the bottle by further downward movement of the plunger and other parts of the capping device. These movable supports may be constructed and actuated in any suitable or desired manner, and in the construction shown, four supports 40 are rovided which are arranged to move through recesses or apertures 4I formed in the skirt portion I I of the capping device. In the particular construction illustrated, these supports when in their operative position, as shown in Fig. 6, engage the open end of the bottle and may be moved outwardly into the position shown in Fig. '7, to permit the closure B to be seated on the end of the bottle.

The supporting members 40 may be moved into and out of their operative positions in any suitable manner and in the construction shown these supporting members are mounted on the lower ends of levers 42 pivoted at 43 on the housing I EI of the capping device. The upper ends of these levers are bent inwardly and engage the plunger I5 when the supporting members are in their operative positions. In order to enable the supporting members to be moved outwardly into their inoperative positions, I provide means for swinging the levers about their pivots when the plunger approaches the lower end of its movement relatively to the housing III. In the particular construction illustrated, the upper portion of the plunger is provided with a part 45 of reduced diameter and the upper ends 44 of the levers 42 may, consequently, move into engagement with this part 45 when the plunger` approaches the lower end of its stroke. If desired, cams or stops 46 may be provided on the upper portion of the plunger to engage the upper surfaces of the parts 44 of the levers to cause these ends of the levers to swing inwardly against the portion 45 of reduced diameter. The inward swinging of the upper end of the levers results in a corresponding outward swinging of the lower ends thereof into the position shown in Fig. 7. After the supporting members 40 have been swung outwardly, no further downward movement of the plunger relatively to the housing I5 results but the entire capping device may then be moved downwardly to cause the lower end of the plunger to press the cap or closure device B into bottle closing position as shown in Fig. 8.

After the capping of the bottles, the capping device is again moved upwardly out of engagement with the bottle and after an initial upward movement, the supporting members 40 will tend to swing by gravity back into their operative positions. Furthermore, the engagement of the upper portions lli of the levers 42 by the shoulder formed at the lower end` of the reduced portion i5 oi the plunger will insure a positive swinging of the levers into a position in which the supporting members il@ will again be in their operative positions. In case the supporting members llt engage the hood 2| of the closure member during the lifting of the capping device from the bottle, no harm or displacement of the closure will result, since the supporting members will merely slide upwardly on the hood of the closure member. If desired, however, one of the levers l2 may be provided with an extension or handle portion 5:8, which extends into proximity with the handle l5 of the capping device when the plunger is in depressed position, and the operator can easily hold the extension '38 with a nger or thumb during the initial lifting or the capping device from the bottle, in which case the levers will be positively held against swinging, so that the supporting parts il will not move into Contact with the bottle closure B. As soon as the capping device is lifted clear of the bottle, the projection i8 may be released by the operator, whereupon the housing l@ of the capping device will move downwardly relatively to the plunger I5 and during this downward movement of the housing, the feed plate 22 moves a cap from the magazine into operative relation to the plunger l5, and the le' ers swing inwardly to place the supporting members in positions to engage a bottle or container. The capping device is then ready for another capping operation.

Any suitable means may be provided for releasably holding the cap or closure device in operative relation to the plunger, and in the construction shown for this purpose, a small spring pressed iinger 5S may be arranged in a recess in a portion oi the housing lil. This presser' iinger is yieldingly urged into its cap holding position by means of a spring 5l, the tension of which may be adjusted by means of a screw 52 threaded in an aperture formed in a lug or projection of the housing, see particularly Figs. a and 5. In feeding the cap into operative relation to the plunger, the cap is pressed into the lower end of the guide aperture of the plunger, thus pressing the finger 5B inwardly against the action of its spring 5S and causing the finger to yieldingly hold the cap. Upon return movement of the feed plate 22 to receive another cap from the magazine, the first cap will be yieldingly held by the spring finger 523 in correct operative relation to the plunger l5.

In the operation of my improved capping device, assuming that the plunger has been moved upwardly relatively to the housing lil to position a cap below the plunger, the capping device is then placed upon a container so that the supports i9 rest upon the top of the container. The plunger is pressed downwardly, thus removing the cap from engagement with the spring linger 5i) and moving the same toward the container. As the plunger reaches the lower end of its movement relatively to the housing ID, the

reduced portion i5 of the plunger reaches a position opposite the upper ends of the levers 42, thus permitting the levers to swing so as to permit the supports Il to move out of engagement with the bottle, as shown in Fig. '7. Preferably the supports lll are so formed as to have a slight tendency to disengage themselves from the end of the bottle as soon as the reduced portion 45 of the plunger permits such movement. The stops or cams 45 are provided merely to positively ensure the outward movement of the supports G in case they become stuck on the end of' a bottle or do not readily move outwardly without the aid of the stops or cams.

After the supports have disengaged the bottle, the entire capping device, including both plunger and housing, moves downwardly to press the cap or closure device into engagement with the end of the container. In this manner, not only the weight of the plunger and the downward pressure applied thereto, but also. the weight of the housing assists in securing the cap in the end of the bottle, thus facilitating the operation of the device and imparting a shock or blow to the cap to rmly seat the same on the container. After the cap has been placed into its operative position, the capping device is lifted upwardly away from the end of the bottle, and if desired, the supporting members lil may be held entirely out of engagement with the cap by the extension llB of one of the levers 32. It is not necessary, however, that the extension 48 be provided on the capping device, since the capping device can be lifted from the bottle or container without damage to the cap without the use of means for temporarily holding the supports @D out of engagement with the cap.

I claim as my invention:

1. A capping device having a housing,r a plunger movable in said housing to place a cap on the end of a container, supporting members adapted to engage the open end. of the container to be capped during the initial movement of the plunger toward thecontainer, and means for withdrawing said supporting members from their supporting positions when said plunger approaches the end of the container and for holding said supporting members out of their supporting positions during the Iinal movement of the plunger to position the cap on the container.

2. A capping device for containers, including a housing and a plunger movab-le relatively to said housing toward the container for moving a cap toward the open end of the container, supporting members movably arranged on said housing and engaging the top of the container to be capped during the movement of the plunger toward the container, and means actuated by the movement of the plunger for withdrawing said supporting devices from engagement with the container when the plunger moves into the vicinity of the container, to permit both plunger and housing to move toward the container for placing the cap on the container.

3. A capping device including a housing, a plunger movable relatively to said housing, means secured to said housing for supporting said housing on the end of the container to be capped, and means actuated by relative movement of said plunger and cap for withdrawing said supporting means from engagement with the container.

4. A capping mechanism including a housing, a plunger movable relatively to said housing toward and from a container, means for feeding caps into a position to be engaged by said plunger for movement to the container, means associated with said housing for engaging the end of the container to be capped to support said capping device on the container during the movement of said plunger toward the container, and means actuated by the final movement of said plunger relatively to said housing for withdrawing said supporting means from engagement with the container.

5. Apparatus for applying a cap to a seat in the open end of a bottle, which comprises a capping plunger, a guide for said plunger, means carried by said guide and normally engageable with said open bottle end to prevent movement of said guide over said bottle end, but operable by said plunger at a selected position in its downward movement in said guide to release said guide and permit movement of said plunger and guide as a unit to impart a blow to a cap and force it against said seat.

6. A capping device including a housing, a plunger movable in the housing, supporting means associated with the housing for supporting the housing on the top of a container, and means for withdrawing said supporting means out of engagement with the container prior to the movement of the cap into its final position by the plunger, whereby the plunger and housing move jointly toward the container to place the cap into its nal position.

7. A capping device including a housing, a plunger movable in said housing toward and from a container to be capped, means supported by said housing for engaging the top of the container to be capped during a portion of the movement of the plunger toward the container, levers on which said means are mounted and which are pivoted on said housing, and means actuated by the plunger for moving said levers to cause said supporting means to move out of engagement with the top of the container when said plunger approaches the lower limit of its movement relatively to said housing.

8. A capping device including a housing, a plunger movably arranged in said housing to move toward and from a container, levers mounted on said housing and having end vprtions arranged to engage the top of the container to support said housing thereon and having their other ends engaging said plunger, and means on said plunger for causing said levers to swing into positions to move out of supporting relation to the container, to permit said housing and plunger to move toward the container during the placing of the cap into engagement therewith.

9. A capping device including a housing, a plunger movably arranged in said housing to move toward and from a container, levers pivoted intermediate of their ends on said housing, the lower ends of said levers extending into a position to engage the top of the container to be capped during the movement of the plunger relatively to said housing into proximity to the container, the other ends of said levers engaging said plunger for positively holding said levers in engagement with the container during a portion of the movement of said plunger, and means for moving said levers out of engagement with the container during the ynal movement of said plunger.

10. A capping device including a housing, a plunger movably arranged in said housing to 5 move toward and from a container, levers pivoted intermediate of their ends on said housing, the lower ends of said levers extending into a position to engage the top of the container tovbe capped during the movement of the plunger rell0 atively to said housing into proximity to the container, the other ends of said levers engaging said plunger for positively holding said levers in engagement with the container during a portion of the movement of said plunger, and portions l5 on said plunger cooperating with said other ends of said levers for moving the first mentioned ends of the leversout of engagement with the container, to permit the plunger to position the cap on the end of the container.

ll. A capping device including a housing, a plunger guided for movement relatively to said housing for moving a cap into engagement with a container, a feed member for feeding caps into operative relation to said plunger, a pivot member secured at one end to said feed member for guiding the same in its movement and extending through an aperture in said housing, and means adjustably secured to the other end of said pivot member and cooperating with said housing for holding said pivot member in correct relation to said housing.

l2. A capping device including a housing, a plunger guided for movementl relatively to said housing for moving a cap into engagement with a container, a feed member for feeding caps into operative relation to said plunger, a pivot member secured at one end to said feed member for guiding the same in its movement and extending through an aperture in said housing, and a flange adjustably secured to the other end of said pivot member and engaging said housing for adjustably holding said pivot and feed members on said housing.

13. A capping device including a housing, a plunger guided for movement relatively to said housing for moving a cap into engagement with a container, a feed member for feeding caps into operative relation to said plunger, a pivot member secured at one end to said feed member for guiding the same in its movement and extending through an aperture in said housing, a iiange removably secured to the other end of said pivot member for holding the same on said housing, said plunger having a part movable into engagement V with said flange to hold said plunger in operative relation to said housing and to limit the extent to which said plunger may move relatively to said housing.

THORVALD PETERSEN. 

